Repoint - Next Generation Track Switch

The Repoint project is an innovative initiative designed to transform railway switch technology, addressing significant challenges within the rail industry through advanced solutions. Traditional railway switches, which have relied on century-old designs, are notable for their frequent failures. These failures result in substantial delays and incur high maintenance costs, creating an urgent need for improvement.

In Britain, switch and crossing failures account for over £500 million annually in delay compensation, maintenance, and renewal costs.

The railway industry has realised the business potential of the point machine. Although key players have presented more reliable and maintenance-easy products, these new candidates can only increase the components' reliability but not achieve system-level fault tolerance due to the conventional design of the actuation mechanism.

At the heart of the Repoint innovation is its fault-tolerant design. Unlike conventional switches that can fail completely, leading to major disruptions, Repoint employs a multi-channel redundancy approach. This design ensures that even if one component fails, the switch continues to operate seamlessly.

The next steps for the Repoint project are crucial for transforming this cutting-edge concept into a market-ready product. We will undertake rigorous product assessments to ensure the technology meets industrial standards. This involves updating the existing prototype to closely resemble real-world situations and then conducting system performance testing and hazard analysis.

Additionally, signalling compatibility tests will be performed to ensure the technology can withstand real-world usage conditions. In the long term, we will conduct field tests, validating and certifying the technology.

The impact of this game-changing technology on the rail industry is profound. The new system promises to reduce point failure cases by 70%, thus significantly reducing unplanned maintenance and delay costs. Moreover, by minimising service disruptions, Repoint contributes to better passenger experiences and more reliable transport services.

The economic benefits, coupled with environmental sustainability due to reduced energy consumption and carbon emissions, underscore the value of this innovation for both the economy and society at large.

In summary, the Repoint project is a transformative initiative that addresses fundamental issues in railway switch technology. Through innovative design and industry collaborations, we aim to set new standards for reliability, efficiency, and safety in the rail industry, benefiting operators, passengers, and the broader economy.